Sherman Fraser Jr’s ‘Can I Have Some Breakfast?’ offers an intimate peak into the quiet sadness of Chris (Marcus Daniels) on his 21st birthday, a day that should be filled with celebration but instead brims with isolation. Fraser Jr. chooses to wrap the film in a haunting black-and-white aesthetic, with cinematographer Chykeem Nichlos capturing the starkness of Chris’s emotional world.
Marcus Daniels delivers an authentic, life-like portrayal of a young man adrift, his loneliness palpable throughout. You feel his struggle, and it’s this rawness that anchors the film. His pain feels real, not forced, making you want to reach out through the screen and comfort him. As he listens to a voice message from his mother and later makes an aching attempt to reconnect with his estranged father, Daniels pulls you in, making Chris’s journey feel deeply personal.
However, while the performances are strong and the atmosphere melancholic, the film’s narrative leaves you wanting more. There’s a lingering sense of incompleteness – like we’ve been given a glimpse of Chris’s sadness but not enough of the reasons behind it. The estrangement between Chris and his father is touched upon but never fully explored, leaving the viewer craving more insight into their fractured relationship. Why is Chris so sad? What led to this estrangement? Without these answers, the emotional stakes don’t fully land.
‘Can I Have Some Breakfast?’ is a respectable short film, but it feels like it’s only scratching the surface. Fraser Jr. succeeds in setting the tone and Daniels excels in bringing it to life. It’s a touching exploration of human connection and the healing power of a single phone call.
